Donor Stories

Sextons Blend Lifetime and Legacy Gifts to Support Business Students

Thomas (Tom), MS ’74, PhD ’79, and Margherita (Terry), MS ’88, Sexton and SBU students

Tom and Terry Sexton chose Stony Brook for graduate school because it offered strong programs, accessibility, and a place to grow academically while building a family and career. Over the years, Stony Brook became more than a school — it was a community that helped them grow, give back, and remain deeply engaged in academic life.

To ensure their support continues for generations, Tom and Terry established the Thomas R. and Margherita T. Sexton Endowed Scholarship for Academic Excellence While Facing Significant Obstacles, aimed at helping College of Business students overcome challenges and thrive. Their gift also leveraged several matching opportunities on campus, tripling its impact. In addition, they included a trust in their estate planning that will augment this fund and provide additional support to other areas they care about on campus after their lifetimes.

Tom is in his 49th year as a professor in the College of Business, while Terry taught as an adjunct professor for 21 years at Stony Brook, Suffolk County Community College, and St. Joseph’s College. Their engagement extended far beyond the classroom. For years, they opened their home to international students during holidays like Thanksgiving, giving those far from home a warm place to gather and feel part of a family.

“Stony Brook was such a big part of our lives,” Terry says. “We want to pay it forward and help students succeed in their studies.” Seeing firsthand the struggles many students face, Tom adds, “These students work so hard and excel in their classes. We wanted to do something meaningful to support them.”

Inspired by the stories shared at the annual Legacy Lunch, an annual event that celebrates donors who have left a future gift to Stony Brook, Tom and Terry decided to step forward with their planned gift publicly, hoping it might encourage others to consider a similar commitment.

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